The 5 Pillars for helping struggling students
There’s nothing worse than trying to help a child and feeling like you’re not getting anywhere. But we can definitely help them turn it around.
It’s so frustrating to see a child suffer through school. How does suffering show up? Overwhelm. Resistance. Discouragement. Withdrawal. Anger. Stuck. This is not ok, and we’re not willing to sit back and pretend it is.
Too many kids feel overwhelmed and broken. They’ve been through the wringer- counselors, tutors, remedial programs, threats, shame, countless meetings, stress. They still don’t have the tools they need and they’re frustrated when they are repeatedly misunderstood. They need to be seen at a deeper level.
There are real solutions but it can be maddening to sift through the time-wasting bs. The stakes are way too high, this is not a dress rehearsal, it’s real life. There is literally nothing more important than real education which empowers students to learn with intention, and thus have the tools to craft truly happy and purposeful lives. There needs to be a major reboot.
Below is my model, which outlines my most valuable “pillars” that we need in order to effectively help students turn it around. I’ve spent years developing this and as you read through it, you should get a clear great idea of where I’m coming from. Here are the pillars in simplest form:
1. Understand learner’s needs holistically.
2. Empower intentional learning & life-crafting.
3. Navigate the current system with the right tools.
4. Model self-care. Your example definitely matters.
5. Re-imagine and revamp education wisely.
More about the 5 pillars
1. UNDERSTAND: Understand learner’s needs holistically. A former student once told me, “happy kids learn more better.” I can’t think of a better way to put it. So what do we need to be “happy?” This article explores the four developmental domains that all intentional learners build upon. This will give you a solid framework that you can apply to meet the complex needs of the students in your life, so they can be happier and, “learn more better”.
Read it…
2. EMPOWER: Empower intentional learning & life-crafting. A mindful look at navigating education to create a happy and purposeful life.
Read it…
3. NAVIGATE: Navigate the current system with the right tools. Regardless of how well intentioned schools are, the system is failing a lot of kids. But to me, there’s no such thing as a “failing” kid – the F was invented in the 1800’s and it’s time to do away with it. Get practical and actionable tools to navigate common challenges in dealing with the current system. What stands in the way of your child’s happiness now and in the future? These insights will help get students on the upward slope.
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4. MODEL: Model self-care, take care of you. Actions speak louder than words. Our children learn through our example. They pick up on everything and need us to be stable, grounded forces they can rely upon. When we live with intention and take care of ourselves, our actions show that we value ourselves. This teaches our children to listen to their deepest needs. But true self-care is no easy task. We must do our own deep inner work and healing, and opening Pandora’s box involves confronting fears and looking at things we’d rather ignore. But it works.
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5. RE-IMAGINE: Re-imagining and revamping education. Zoom out and explore what education’s really all about. Revise your own ideas about the purpose of education, so they’re authentically aligned with your core values and thus best serve your child. See how we got to where we are in education, explore how to deal with it in it’s current form, and how to change it for the future. Huge revolutions are taking place right now!
Read it…
The pillars in depth – dive in!